Dardanelle beats Clarksville 22-15CLARKSVILLE — The Dardanelle Sand Lizards rode the legs of junior running back T.J. Tucker to a 22-15 victory over the Clarksville Panthers on Friday at Metheny Field. Clarksville, who has only lost 20 of the last 63 home games, including their 1-9 season last year, leads Dardanelle in the series 6-5. Knowing that, Sand Lizards head coach Josh Price was grateful for the win. “With our history against Clarksville, we would have been happy walki...

Cyclones survive Alma challenge, 17-7The Russellville Cyclones needed a close game in Friday night’s last nonconference game before kicking off 7A/6A Central Conference action next week at Conway. The Alma Airedales, who lost to Greenwood 47-7 last week, were ready and willing to oblige. Alma went straight down the field on its first possession and took a 7-0 lead, and the Airedale defense forced RHS quarterback Cody Jones to throw three interceptions. But the Cyclone defense had...

Red Devils erase early deficit to beat Two RiversATKINS — The Atkins Red Devils overcame an early 13-point deficit to knock off the Two Rivers Gators 26-13 Friday at a soggy Sorrels Stadium at Lemley Field. The Red Devils (3-0) trailed 13-12 with 3:32 left in the game, but Atkins quarterback Alex Spradlin hit Brandon Burns on a 17-yard pass for a touchdown to give the Red Devils the lead for good. The story of the first half was the excellent play of the Gators defense, who kept the Red Devi...

RJHS Westside falls 32-6Despite a strong opening drive, the Russellville Junior High Westside Whirlwinds weren’t able to overcome the Clarksville Junior Panthers and fell 32-6 Thursday night at Cyclone Stadium. Clarkville (2-1) moved quick after receiving the opening kickoff and scored in just seven plays. Rease Howard took it across the goal line from 17 yards out and after the 2-point conversion, the Whirlwinds trailed 8-0 with 4:28 left in the first quarter. Wests...

Junior Sand Lizards tie with EastsideDARDANELLE—The Dardanelle Junior Sand Lizards were not intimidated by their larger neighbors from across the Arkansas River as the Junior Sand Lizards fought to a 20-20 tie with the Russellville Junior High Eastside Whirlwinds Thursday at Keenan Field. The Sand Lizards had a chance to win on the final play of the game, but Marvin Hernandez’s 26-yard field goal try was wide right. In what was a wild first half of action, the Whirlwinds (0-2-1) ...

Cyclones pursuing 3-0 startRussellville head coach Jeff Holt knows the Alma Airedales are no joke. Not only have the Airedales traditionally defeated the Russellville Cyclones — Alma leads the series 6-2 — the Airedales brings with them a familiar face at head coach spot – one who comes with a considerable amount of clout. Alma (1-1) head coach Doug Loughridge began coaching for the Cyclones in 1999, the same time Holt took on the head coach mantle. Loughridge soon beca...

The River Valley Glance – Week 3 gets here quickWe’re already looking Week 3 straight in the eyes. Before long, conference season will be here — and that’s when the season gets truly make-or-break. Business as usual • Russellville Cyclones — The Cyclones have carved a name for themselves through the first two games of the season. No longer is it surprising when Russellville quarterback Cody Jones throws for nearly 500 yards and five touchdown strikes in a game. Will the Cyclones wrack up su...

RJHS West beats ViloniaVILONIA — The Russellville Junior High Westside Lady Whirlwinds kept the wins coming Monday in straight sets over the Vilonia Junior Lady Eagles. The Lady Whirlwinds (11-1, 3-0 River Valley Conference) won 25-23, 25-18. “It was a very balanced team effort win,” Westside head coach Jonathan Neeley said. Four players led the team offensively. Baylee Knight had a team high five kills, while Bheyleigh Nufer, Annabelle McNeille and Alex Adkins had ...

RHS tennis sweeps Sheridan, BentonThe Russellville Cyclones and Lady Cyclones tennis teams swept a dual meet against the Benton Panthers and Lady Panthers and Sheridan Yellow Jacket and Lady Yellow Jackets on Monday at Russellville High School. The Cyclones and Lady Cyclones each defeated Sheridan 4-0 without dropping a single match. “I was very pleased with the effort and intensity the team displayed during the matches,” RHS head tennis coach Bill Rowlett said. “The doubles t...

Warriors pound Subiaco AcademyLAMAR — Hooten’s Arkansas Football gave the Lamar Warriors a 1-point advantage over the visiting Subiaco Academy Trojans on Friday night at Warrior Field, but Lamar sent the Trojans home to lick their wounds with a 46-7 thrashing. Lamar raced to a 14-0 lead by the close of the first quarter and added 12 more points before the half. The Trojans didn’t find the scoreboard until the fourth quarter, but by then the Warriors had added another 20 po...

Lady Cyclones take secondIf the rivalry between the Russellville Lady Cyclones volleyball team and the Conway Lady Wampus cats wasn’t bad enough already, it got worse when Conway defeated the Lady Cyclones on Saturday in the championship game of the Volley in the Valley tournament held inside Cyclone Gymnasium. “We played well all day,” Russellville head coach Cindy Jones said. “We went undefeated in pool play, we played really well against Bryant and Mount Saint Mary...

RHS cross country tops Conway Invite meetCONWAY — Several Cyclones and Lady Cyclones cross country members improved their personal records in Conway on Saturday during the Wampus Cat Cross Country Invitational held at Beaverfork Lake. Of the 17 schools in attendance, many of which hailed from the Class 7A, the Cyclones won, while the Lady Cylcones placed fifth. “We were extremely proud that most all had personal bests,” Russellville head coach John Frazier said. “It was a great day t...

Cyclone stadium dedicates turf to late Susie WhortonThe north end of Russellville High School’s Cyclone Stadium now bares the word so often spoken by late Russellville football enthusiast Susie Whorton, The patch of synthetic turf, which was revealed in a halftime ceremony during the Cyclones’ victory over Siloam Springs, reads “Believe” — Whorton’s motto. Whorton spent her Friday nights capturing memories with a camera for the student-athletes who participate in the football program at Russell...

Cyclones soar over Siloam Springs 45-23The Russellville Cyclones sputtered and stumbled on the opening kickoff for the second straight week. But after six Siloam Springs turnovers — and another five touchdown passes from senior Cody Jones to three receivers — RHS came from behind again to beat the visiting Panthers 45-23 Friday night at Cyclone Stadium. Russellville head coach Jeff Holt admitted after the game the Cyclones (2-0) have got to start better, despite forcing three Siloa...

Dover Pirates toppled by Mayflower EaglesDOVER — The Dover Pirates could not overcome an incredible performance by Arkansas Baptist quarterback Riley Perkins as the Pirates fell 55-40 to the Eagles Friday on senior night at Jack Berry Field. Perkins finished the game 24-for-32 for an astounding 484 yards and seven touchdowns. The Eagles (1-1) received the opening possession and drove 62 yards in eight plays for the first score of the evening. Perkins hit Ryan Fielder on a 28-yard pas...

Pottsville Apaches rock Fountain LakePOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Apaches hosted and defeated the Fountain Lake Cobras 41-6 at John Needham Stadium in non-conference action Friday night. The Cobras won the toss and elected to receive the kick. That turned out to be about the only positive thing that happened in the first half for Fountain Lake. After an impressive opening drive by the Cobras which covered 29 yards in 10 plays, Pottsville scored a touchdown on each of its four offe...

The River Valley football roundupWeek 1 is behind us, and we’ve seen what the teams in the Arkansas River Valley are capable of. When Week 2 kicks off tonight, we’ll see which teams learned their lessons and which ones didn’t. Business as usual • Pottsville Apaches — The only people who thought the Apaches would lose to the Heber Springs Panthers were the people who live in Heber Springs. So don’t look to me for surprise when they rolled out a 57-28 win over the Panthers in w...